Early in December I issued a rather strong challenge to the church to step up in our concern for the people of the world. This is the way I stated the challenge.

“In a meeting last year I realized that though Southern Baptists give the largest mission offering in the world, the offering is really rather small. Fourteen and one-half million Southern Baptists give $145 million for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering–$10 per person. Let me be quick to point out that many people do not give anything at all while others give large amounts.”

But that was exactly my point. Shouldn’t we all give an extra amount of money for something so important? Should there be any member of our church who doesn’t give?

I want to report that FBC giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering almost doubled from last year to this year. To date, the folks of FBC have given over $66,000 for this offering. I am proud of the church and thankful for this offering.

I hope that in the next year you will keep this in the forefront of your thinking and praying. Like the folks in our country, the people of the world need to the hear the life-changing hope that is in Christ.

Many of you are in different denominations and churches. One of our many commonalities is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). I hope that you will give to help your church and denomination proclaim the Gospel.

Thank you for your faithfulness.

But this is not all of the good news.

First Baptist Church does not stop with a mission offering. Each week, part of our offering is used to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It is a systematic plan to make sure that our church is at the forefront of making Christ known.

First Baptist Church also has a plan to send teams to actually do the work of ministry. Each year we travel to Colombia, The Czech Republic, Guatemala, India, and Haiti, as well as missions in our own country (last year a team when to Virginia). Just recently Jay Johnston and Rock Kendrick participated in a trip to Haiti to assess the possibility of Louisiana churches establishing a medical clinic and orphanage in Haiti. The Louisiana Baptist Convention has asked First Baptist Church and Jay Johnston to lead the way in this important endeavor. I am thankful that Louisiana Baptists trust us with this work.

This summer many of our young people will go to the island of Grenada to advance the work of Christ.

Thank you for making all of this work possible. May God bless our efforts as we seek to serve Him.

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2 Comments

Ed Matthew

Feb 25, 2012

AMEN!
When one spends time on the Mission Field out of country, the differences between denominations seem silly. Unfortunately, as it is with so many life experiences, others remain locked into their “genesko” refusing the knowledge from within, as described mostly in the Book of John. Thus the “full knowledge” that Paul desires for Christians working together remains illusive. Thank God for a Family of God which realizes His Purpose, as it was from the beginning.